How-To Geek

Okay my friend has an old laptop he got from a pawn shop. It is a gateway and it has an Intel celeron m 520 @ 1.60ghz ,1596mhz, 1core, 1 logical processor. That is what it says in system info exactly. Total installed memory RAM is 512, physical memory 445mb, and the available memory is 79.9mb. system type is x86-based pc. The model number is ML3109. It came with windows vista SP 2 installed from the factory.

The pc is in good shape it boots fine and all but the problem as you can see is memory. it runs really slow. I see that there is a ton of crap in memory that is not needed. My friend does not have allot of money so I need to do this a cheap as possible. I don't think that he can go for more ram now in the future maybe. Unfortunately I don't like going into laptops so I would have to take it to someone to install memory if it were a tower I would do it no problem. So I was going to reinstall vista without the crap I have a vista cd from my pops old emachine and the product key is still on the laptop.

But I was wondering if I installed windows XP SP3 instead would the system run better because of the ram? I know win vista and 7 really need at least 1 gig of ram to be okay. And xp was designed for the older pc's with less ram. I don't know really what do you guys think? The pc is only going to be used for web surfing and stuff he is not looking to do anything crazy with it. Just some educational kids games for his daughter. Any advice would be very appreciated. Thanks,
Charlie

If you want to install XP, you will need a license which costs money too - unless the COA sticker on the bottom of the laptop is for XP. A good option may be one of the Linux systems. That would do fine with that kind of hardware.

LOL - oldgeezer was a few seconds faster.

Okay Thanks for the speedy replies. The pc came with vista the sticker on bottom is for vista. I think I have a old win xp disk that I burned of the net So I think I am going to try that and then purchase an activation key. I also might try fedora as I am a fan of that but I don't know what my buddy is going to like. I am assuming that it is a 32 bit system because of the age but I don't really know anyone know how I can tell for sure?

I cant understand why they sold pc's with 512mb ram and win vista when it is recommended that you have at least 1gb ram for vista. My pops e machine was the same way. And it was just awful. I have never installed ram on a laptop as a matter of fact I love to work on pc's and have taken apart or built every pc I have had. Except for my two laptops they scare me. But maybe I will get a set of balls and try to attempt it what the hell If I break it I am getting a new pc for myself so I will give him my old one. Thanks alot guys I will let you know the results.

Fedora 'likes' to see 1gb ram.
Another option I use regularly is Zorin; http://zorin-os.com/free.html
Works fine on older laptops and also with 512mb ram.
Has a very 'Windows' like feel

Mike

Changing RAM on a laptop is a piece of cake. Just open the bay and you will see. The only thing to watch out for is to get the Dimms in at the right angle - remember the approximate angle when you pull the old Dimms out. Then make sure they clip in. There are plenty of video tutorials on the web. Those may help.

Agree with Lighthouse on that one, a lot of laptops have memory bays at the base and also under the keyboard, which can be a little fiddly to remove sometimes!!!

I had a Fujitsu Siemens and HP Laptop and both had one memory module located under the keyboard!

If the Laptop was pre-installed with vista you may not be able to get drivers for XP from Gateway, you may need to find out what make the Wireless card is and go to the manufacturers website and look for drivers there! Most likely Intel Wireless Card

My two Gateways have RAM bays that are easily accessible. All it takes is to turn the laptop around and check.